Single Crystalline Films of Ce3+-Doped Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12 Garnets: Crystallization, Optical, and Photocurrent Properties

Gorbenko V, Zorenko T, Shakhno A, Popielarski P, Osvet A, Batentschuk M, Fedorov A, Mahlik S, Lesniewski T, Majewska N, Zorenko Y (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Materials MDPI

Book Volume: 16

Article Number: 1869

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.3390/ma16051869

Abstract

This research focuses on LPE growth, and the examination of the optical and photovoltaic properties of single crystalline film (SCF) phosphors based on Ce³⁺-doped Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12 garnets with Mg and Si contents in x = 0–0.345 and y = 0–0.31 ranges. The absorbance, luminescence, scintillation, and photocurrent properties of Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12:Ce SCFs were examined in comparison with Y3Al5O12:Ce (YAG:Ce) counterpart. Especially prepared YAG:Ce SCFs with a low (x, y < 0.1) concentration of Mg²⁺ and Mg²⁺–Si⁴⁺ codopants also showed a photocurrent that increased with rising Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ concentrations. Mg²⁺ excess was systematically present in as-grown Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12:Ce SCFs. The as-grown SCFs of these garnets under the excitation of α–particles had a low light yield (LY) and a fast scintillation response with a decay time in the ns range due to producing the Ce⁴⁺ ions as compensators for the Mg²⁺ excess. The Ce⁴⁺ dopant recharged to the Ce³⁺ state after SCF annealing at T > 1000 °C in a reducing atmosphere (95%N2 + 5%H2). Annealed SCF samples exhibited an LY of around 42% and similar scintillation decay kinetics to those of the YAG:Ce SCF counterpart. The photoluminescence studies of Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12:Ce SCFs provide evidence for Ce³⁺ multicenter formation and the presence of an energy transfer between various Ce³⁺ multicenters. The Ce³⁺ multicenters possessed variable crystal field strengths in the nonequivalent dodecahedral sites of the garnet host due to the substitution of the octahedral positions by Mg²⁺ and the tetrahedral positions by Si⁴⁺. In comparison with YAG:Ce SCF, the Ce³⁺ luminescence spectra of Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12:Ce SCFs greatly expanded in the red region. Using these beneficial trends of changes in the optical and photocurrent properties of Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12:Ce garnets as a result of Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ alloying, a new generation of SCF converters for white LEDs, photovoltaics, and scintillators could be developed.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andres Osvet Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Miroslaw Batentschuk Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET)

Involved external institutions

Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz / Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszcz (UKW)

Poland (PL) National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NAN) / Національна академія наук України

Ukraine (UA) University of Gdańsk / Uniwersytet Gdański

Poland (PL)

How to cite

APA:

Gorbenko, V., Zorenko, T., Shakhno, A., Popielarski, P., Osvet, A., Batentschuk, M.,... Zorenko, Y. (2023). Single Crystalline Films of Ce3+-Doped Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12 Garnets: Crystallization, Optical, and Photocurrent Properties. Materials, 16(5). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma16051869

MLA:

Gorbenko, Vitaliy, et al. "Single Crystalline Films of Ce3+-Doped Y3MgxSiyAl5−x−yO12 Garnets: Crystallization, Optical, and Photocurrent Properties." Materials 16.5 (2023).

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